EdSource workers strike over unfair labor practices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 14, 2026

OAKLAND, CA – Unionized staff at EdSource, the largest education newsroom in California, are on strike today, May 14, 2026 to protest unilateral changes to healthcare benefits and management’s lack of progress toward a fair contract.

Management recently chose to make unilateral changes to our health coverage without engaging in bargaining, resulting in increased co-pays and deductibles, despite being in a period of status quo and having the obligation to bargain on these changes. This is a clear violation of labor law and the Guild has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

“It’s time for management to start respecting the Guild as an equal, start truly engaging with us on our proposals and stop making decisions behind closed doors,” said Zaidee Stavely, podcast host and immigration and education reporter who is also co-chair of the unit.

Nearly 18 months have passed since the EdSource Guild, a bargaining unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, was recognized. The unit has been bargaining since August but remains far apart from management on sustainable wages, adequate health care, sick leave, parental and family caretaking leave, protections against being replacement by freelancers or other temporary workers, guardrails and safeguards for the use of Artificial Intelligence in generating the news, legal protections for the confidentiality of sources and freedom of the press and other matters.

“A fair contract for journalists is how we ensure the quality and sustainability of the reporting our communities count on. We care deeply about this work and the gravity of this action is meant to reflect that,” said Investigative Reporter Thomas Peele, who serves as co-chair of the unit. “We sincerely hope that management chooses to take our right to bargain and the content of our proposals seriously moving forward.”

Members will establish a picket line at the company’s office at 1740 Telegraph Ave, Oakland and members across the state will hold an online rally at 12 noon Pacific Time. Supporters are asked not to cross the line, visit EdSource’s website or click on EdSource content on other platforms during the course of the strike. Supporters can donate to the EdSource Guild strike fund here, and pledge not to cross the digital picket line here.

“We don’t want to strike but this has taken so long and there are so many issues we aren’t making progress on that we’re running out of options,” said Data Journalist Daniel J. Willis, unit vice co-chair. “If this is what it takes to get fair wages with raises that keep up with inflation, job protections from layoffs, AI, and winning paid leave that other news organizations give journalists, then this is what we have to do.”

We invite the public and the press to join us at our rally at 12 p.m. PT either in person at 1740 Telegraph Ave, Oakland or online at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/93464421760.